Does CBD Oil Get You High?

We hear it all the time: “CBD gets you high. Stoned. Baked. It’s just like marijuana.”

But is that the truth? Does CBD oil get you high?

What is CBD Oil, Exactly?

Much of the belief that CBD produces a psychoactive high comes from the fact that it’s derived from the cannabis plant. 

CBD is one of the many compounds found in cannabis and hemp. Beneficial terpenes and flavonoids are a few others.

Another big one is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC’s the one that contributes to the psychoactive effects most people think about when they think about marijuana.

CBD, however, usually comes from industrial hemp, which has very low concentrations of THC to begin with. It’s actually bred that way, just as the plants that give us THC are bred for it.

More on CBD: What’s the difference between full spectrum and CBD isolate? And which one is right for you?

Does CBD Oil Get You High?

While some CBD products do contain trace amounts of THC, it’s typically not enough to cause any type of euphoric effect.

In fact, in 2017 the World Health Organization reported that while THC can impair cognitive performance and psychomotor abilities, “clinical studies have reported that even high doses of oral CBD do not cause those [psychoactive] effects that are characteristic for THC and for cannabis rich in THC.”

To be sure, look for a product with less than 0.3% THC.

Why? It has to do with how CBD goes to work on your Endocannabinoid System.

THC can make you feel high because it activates CB1 receptors in the brain associated with euphoria, relaxation, and short-term memory impairment.

CBD, on the other hand, is actually a CB1 antagonist. So, instead of making you feel stoned, it actually blocks THC’s intoxicating effects.

More on CBD: If it isn’t going to get you high, can you get addicted to it?

Final Thoughts

There are several reasons people are turning to CBD these days, but none of those reasons include taking a “trip.” While CBD may do some pretty amazing things, getting you high isn’t one of them, and that’s ok with us 🙂